Israel is rightly alarmed at the escalating scale of the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign. BDS constitutes a concrete threat to the future of Israel’s economic, academic, cultural, sports and political standing. BDS is not only a well-organized and structured global operation that aims to push for Israel to withdraw from territories, but a campaign of well-oiled lies, of dangerous international dimension.
Of course it is legitimate to criticize the policies of a government, but the BDS movement goes far beyond legitimate criticism, and in essence calls for the dismantling of the Jewish state. How to fight against anti-Semitism when incitement to hatred of Israel and Jews is rapidly spread by globalization and social media?
While the Arab boycott against the Jewish state is not new– it began at the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, but it was organized then by the Arab League due to the territorial dispute with the nascent state. Since 2005, however, it has taken an unprecedented turn with the creation of the BDS movement.
Despite huge investment and effort, BDS has so far not scored any significant economic and trade sanctions against Israel, because governments are fiercely opposed to it.
The question is whether the spread of BDS and increasing public pressure will encourage leaders of the international community to change their firm opposition to the detriment of Israel.
Any fair-minded person must contemplate why the BDS movement is focused on the Jewish state, while massacres continue all over the Middle East and are almost completely ignored. A real theater of the absurd!
Currently, the main success of BDS has been in the cultural and academic field. Thus, we see artists and musicians cancelling appearances in Israel as well as some academics who refuse to attend meetings and forums.
This smear campaign, animated ferociously via social networks, is systematically accompanied by threats to any person who intends to come to Israel.
In recent days, the boycott movement has escalated and could snowball following the words of Orange CEO, Stéphane Richard in Cairo, and the termination of the contract with the Israeli company Partner, just three months after its signing.
How can one not be amazed by the acrobatic explanations of a major French corporation that had just extended its contract? Why did it take the French state, which owns over 25% of Orange shares, so long to condemn the boycott against the Jewish state? Why did Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius not make a distinction between “colonization” and the Jewish state, and underscore that this grotesque gesture was made against a friend and ally?
Is there no contradiction when French companies like Orange praise the prowess of Israel’s economy and her advanced technology and, at the same time, give in to the pressure of a boycott?
Fortunately, 48 hours after his original statement, the CEO of Orange realized he had made a serious mistake. Mr. Richard stated that his remarks had been “misinterpreted” and that he remains a true friend of Israel. But the damage has already been done and his apology does not excuse the fault … or the stupidity.
How can France revive the peace process and submit a resolution to the UN Security Council in advance if its work is biased and not transparent?
Anyone who thinks that French policy towards the Palestinians would have changed if a peace process was underway and that a leftist government would have ended the boycott deceives both Israeli and international opinion. The Arab boycott exceeds all divisions between left and right. It is launched against all Israelis and all Jews – regardless of their political affiliation or opinion – and therefore our struggle must be conducted in unison.
The initiative taken by American Jewish billionaires to fight BDS should also be followed in Europe, especially in the U.K and France.
We believed that the time of former French president Valery Giscard d’Estaing and his prime minister Raymond Barre had passed: There is no longer a list of French companies who are victims of the Arab boycott.
Note also that during the 1950s, despite the good relationship Israel maintained with Socialist France, the Renault company, which was to build a factory in Israel to build Dauphine vehicles for the IDF canceled a contract, preferring the offers from Nasser’s Egypt; the same thing happened with Orange, since this company has also bowed to pressure to support the Egyptian market which, no doubt, is ten times bigger than Israel’s with its 33 million customers. So we see that France has often yielded to economic blackmail, not to mention that in 1967 and 1973 when Israel looked death in the face, France twice imposed an embargo on arms.
Certainly, “business is business “, and independent business strategy must be respected. In this regard, and in the context of the effects of globalization, simple financial considerations often take precedence over political interests.
We can also do business without engaging in blackmail and boycott because it has a limit to everything, especially when the BDS campaign is a savage and premeditated political act.
BDS is gaining ground, but if certain chancelleries naively think that diktats, pressures and boycotts will advance the peace process in this way, they are completely mistaken.
This deceptive campaign is outrageous. It is orchestrated by the Palestinians against a democratic country. This is counterproductive and double-edged. To restart the peace process, we need to restore mutual trust and the Palestinians must agree to sincere dialogue with Israel’s democratically elected representatives.
Research indicates that most of those involved in the BDS movement are ignorant of the fundamental issues that drive the conflict with the Palestinians. They do not know much about the Israeli reality and are unable to lead a real substantive debate.
In this sad context, Israeli diplomacy needs to be shaken up through creative initiatives and develop a new strategy, more muscular and more sophisticated. We need to think “outside the box” to effectively counter misinformation, and on this point Jewish communities around the world should be consulted and take on this struggle in full coordination. Also, Israel should focus its efforts on direct and permanent contact with businesses, universities and artists.
We recognize the long-term work that remains to be done to convince our partners of our just cause. Hypocrisy, prejudice, and ignorance often prevail, but it is sadly how the world operates.
It is important to combat BDS with historical facts, figures, and irrefutable evidence on the ground. False propaganda and incitement to hatred are cowardly and a contemptible way to fight. Such methods dispel every chance of peace in this region of the world where chaos reigns committed by the “fools of Allah.”
This article originally appeared on http://jcpa.org
(12) Bobby5000, June 24, 2017 6:21 PM
Addressing the apartheid lie
Jews have been either forced to leave, or had their liberty significantly limited in most Arab countries. Sadly vibrant Jewish communities in Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Tunisia, and Yemen, have been decimated. Because of the pervasive bias on campus and elsewhere, this is not discussed and if we want apartheid comparisons, here is a more realistic paradigm.
Imagine, white South Africa took 99% of the land (and 99% of the Middle Ease is in fact either Arabic or Muslim). Nonetheless, with that 1% Jews (or blacks or our analogy) built a wonderful country with innovative technology, state of the art medical, and rights for women. How about us, the majority cries why can't we use the other 1%. We still want to prevent Jews from worship, occupations, in the 99% we control, but would like to everyone to use the other 1%. Our vision is no Jews in the 99% of land we control, and joint occupation for everyone in the 1% we do not.
(11) Mr. Cohen, June 21, 2016 2:56 AM
BDS Past and Present
http://edgar1981.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/bds-and-nazis.html
(10) Wilhelm, October 13, 2015 3:27 PM
BDS
Jews and all fair minded people need support Israel, Israeli companies and Israeli merchants.
(9) Mr. Cohen, June 11, 2015 5:33 AM
fight back against BDS
Learn how to defend Israel from unfair media bias
and refute inaccurate Israel-bashing reporting:
www.algemeiner.com
www.camera.org
www.FrontPageMag.com
www.HonestReporting.com
http://IsraelLawCenter.org/
www.JewHatredOnCampus.org
www.jns.org
www.memri.org www.memritv.org
www.PalWatch.org
Joining pro-Israel organizations might help Israel.
Pro-Israel organizations include:
www.afsi.org
www.aipac.org
www.HonestReporting.com
www.KeepJerusalem.org
www.rza.org
www.zoa.org
PS 1: I humbly suggest that this web site link to the web sites shown above,
and write articles about the organizations behind them.
PS 2: Since Orthodox Jews are increasing as a percentage of American Jews, they should also increase their participation in pro-Israel organizations, to compensate for the declining numbers of non-Orthodox Jews.
(8) Zsolt, June 10, 2015 11:21 PM
legitimizing
Yes BDS is irrational, it is built on lies just as antisemitism in general.
So how could one fight something irrational, built on lies with facts, trying to counter it face to face?
Yes others try to de-ligitimize Israel, Jews but is it really up to others do decide our "right to exist"?
Only Jews can legitimize their existence and their rightful existence in Israel.
And such legitimization has to happen trough feeling inside as a single, united Nation, and acting outside as a single, united Nation.
We have to keep returning to the pledges our predecessors made at Sinai, to become united "as one man with one heart", living in absolute mutual responsibility towards each other where "all of Israel is responsible for another".
When we ourselves will have no doubt about the legitimacy of us being a real Nation meriting a real homeland nobody else will have any doubts either.
Moreover through our positive example, uniting above and despite our mutual differences, mutual distrust even hatred we can become real "Light onto the nations", showing them how to survive in a global world where each and every one of us depend on each and every one.
(7) Dvirah, June 10, 2015 8:00 PM
Can You Prove It?
One strategy, at least with people who are rational enough to think and willing also to listen, is to challenge them to back up their statements about Israel with documented facts. Most cannot, and if the challenger is prepared on his/her side with facts, figures and - most important - sources where these can be verified, at least some truth may prevail.
(6) Ruth, June 10, 2015 3:45 PM
WHY!!!!
I'm sure that there are some ignorant people out there--but why do believers hat the Jews so much. Haven't they read the Bible? Don't they know what G-ds Word say about His people? Do the "christians" believe whatever the Muslims & others like them,say? Can't they think for themselves? You DO know that if you hurt His people, the Jews (Israel), that you will have to stand before G-d one day---don't you? Then why don't you stand with Israel?
(5) Fred, June 10, 2015 2:26 AM
Hitler's BDS Legacy.
Hitler's followers continue his legacy through Muslims and again Europeans. BDS encompasses all Jews & Israel. Europe is entering into the same 1930 era where Jews felt the NAZI hatred full blast, these days with influx of the new NAZI Muslim Colonist that hatred is being kindled again. Europes Gov. are impotent in its wake. Anti Semitism good, Islamaphobia bad. Wake up , BDS ( build, develop & support Israel )
(4) Mika Krok, June 9, 2015 8:25 PM
These people are jealous, and cowards. They will never do something for their own people. Its tipical of ignorants and mediocre people to attack what they never achieve. Its terrible to see this international wave of hatred without reason. Here in Brasil they try with all their persuasion to make 2 wonderful artists not to perform on July in Israel. But for now they resist and say they will go to Israel since israelis love them. May God keep them safe.-- Mika
(3) gunter hiller, June 9, 2015 5:49 PM
Amen!
Amen!
(2) Larry Snider, June 9, 2015 4:07 PM
BDS, Peace & Dialogue
The only way to peace is through understanding and the only way to understanding is though dialogue: http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Anti-normalization-BDS-peace-and-justice-405425
(1) Ben, June 9, 2015 1:59 PM
This is continuation of pre-state Arab Boycott
It needs to be strongly vociferously noted this is a reincarnation of the Arab League boycott of Israel / Jews that started before the state of Israel was even reestablished.
The goal was part of the general goal of the destruction of the idea of a Jewish state in the Middle East. It is on a national level the equivalent of the Nazis boycott of Jews in the 1930's. To join in this is to openly support Racism. It should be noted Apartheid is in REALITY practiced by the PALESTINIANS who forbid sales of land to Jews. To force a label on products made in settlements but not on products made by Terrorism supporting countries seems to indicate it is a greater crime to build Jewish homes in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem than for say Iran to train and send missiles to Hezbollah and Hamas to kill civilians purposely. Jews that support this action may be "brain washed" or "self hating" but also Traiitorious in deed. In the Shemone Esrai we pray against those that betray Jews as sadly it is not a new phenomenon.
Ben, June 9, 2015 3:25 PM
frankly its mainly Moslems
I think frankly those that rally for boycotts and in general against Israel in campuses and European streets are Moslems who are predisposed as per their dictatorship and Jihadist biased propaganda exposure. As far as other Europeans I frankly think the attitude is Who Cares - we're not Jewish or Moslem. And of course any anti-semites or closet anti-semites or friends of protesters will join in as well. Its not a matter of Justice or Right
Ben, June 10, 2015 7:16 PM
More Needs to Be Demanded from Democracies & Campuses
In Democracies though we need to demand if racist anti-Israel protesters want to boycott Israeli products they must not be allowed to intimidate shoppers and shop owners or the blame will be SQUARELY on the so called Democracy for not protecting its citizens from Jhadi Racists. The same goes for college campuses - if large groups of Moslem students biased by their Religoun or Biased Totalarian Media protest against Israel they must NOT be allowed to intimidate Jewish or other pro-Israel students. If need be government (and alumni) need to be pushed in.